EPA Awards Four Brownfield Redevelopment Grants in New Hampshire; Part of $75.4 Million Funded Nationwide

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced four Brownfields grants totaling $800,000 to assess, clean and redevelop abandoned, contaminated parcels known as Brownfields. This funding is part of $75.4 million in Brownfields grants announced this week by EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt, including $8.6 million to New England alone.

"These grants will help spur the cleanup of abandoned, contaminated parcels all across New England, especially in cities like Nashua and elsewhere in the state," said Robert W. Varney, EPA New England regional administrator.

Grants were awarded to:

City of Nashua - $200,000

Nashua Regional Planning Commission - $200,000,

North Country Council received $200,000

City of Keene - $200,000

EPA's Brownfields funds help communities assess contamination at abandoned and vacant sites and estimate the costs of cleaning up sites for redevelopment. Municipalities and select organizations can also receive funding for cleanup grants and to establish revolving loan programs that provide low interest loans for cleanups.

The funding for this and other projects is a direct result of Brownfields legislation signed by President Bush in 2002. In addition to making more sites eligible for cleanup, including petroleum contaminated sites, the legislation greatly increased funding to assist nonprofit groups, municipalities, regional agencies and states in various tasks associated with restoring and revitalizing Brownfields properties, of which there are thousands across New England. The law authorizes up to $250 million in funds annually for Brownfield grants, including up to $50 million for assessment and cleanup of low-risk petroleum contaminated sites.

The program relies on market incentives and private sector actions to restore blighted properties. This approach empowers state and local environmental and economic redevelopment officials to oversee brownfields activities, ensuring that local solutions are created to solve local problems.

Since 1995, EPA New England has provided more than $91 million for grants, site evaluations, job training and cleanup loan programs to dozens of communities and agencies, including more than $9.4 million to New Hampshire. Federal funding has leveraged another $25.5 million in private investments to cleanup and redevelop brownfields. With that was the addition of scores of new jobs in the state.

The Brownfields program reflects a new model in environmental protection which is locally-based, forges strong public-private partnerships and promotes innovation and creativity. This approach empowers state and local environmental and redevelopment officials to oversee Brownfields activities, ensuring that local solutions are created to solve local problems. EPA estimates that every acre of reclaimed Brownfields saves 4.5 acres of greenspace and every greenspace created, on average, has doubled the value of surrounding properties.

EPA seeks to ensure that all citizens enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment and better quality of life, and that no community or neighborhood bares a heavier burden of environmental risks that may impact their health.